Strategies & Information:

Approximately 20% of statisticians work for the federal government, and they are found in nearly all agencies and departments. An additional 10% work in state and local governments.

Plan to earn a master's or doctoral degree to qualify for most "statistician" jobs.

Some positions are available for students with bachelor's degrees in statistics.

Develop a strong background in computers because they are used extensively for statistical applications.

Complete an internship with a government organization.

Learn about the government hiring process and plan to apply early. Research special hiring authorizations to be hired and promoted more quickly.

Area:

Business and Industry

Sub-Area:

Quality Control

Reliability

Product Testing

Product Development and Improvement

Management of Assets and Liabilities

Risk Assessment

Financial Planning

Market Research

Management

Research

Engineering Applications

Data Processing Services

Purchasing

Technical Writing

Employers:

Manufacturers

Pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms

Communications industry

Consumer marking firms

Consulting firms

Research centers and laboratories

Utility companies

Environmental clean-up firms

Software developers

Engineering firms

Transportation companies

Financial institutions

Insurance companies

Nonprofit organizations

Strategies & Information:

Take a well-rounded selection of business and computer courses.

Plan to earn a master's or doctoral degree for higher level positions.

Gain relevant experience through internships.

Develop a strong background in computers because they are used extensively for statistical applications.

Learn to work well both independently and on interdisciplinary teams.

Develop the ability to communicate statitical aspects of business decisions to a wide array of people.

Area:

Health and Medicine

Sub-Area:

Biomedical Research

Biostatistics

Clinical Trials

Epidemiology

Genetics

Pharmacology

Public Health

Animal Health

Health Economics

Technical Writing

Employers:

Pharmaceutical companies

Biotechnology firms

Hospitals

National laboratories

Government agencies such as:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Food and Drug Administration

National Institutes of Health

Research universities

Animal health industry

Scientific journals

Strategies & Information:

Supplement curriculum with courses such as biology, chemistry, biostatistics, and other natural sciences.

Learn to work well on interdisciplinary teams.

Complete a relevant internship.

Develop strong written and verbal communication skills. Statisticians in this field may frequently write technical reports.

Area:

Insurance

Sub-Area:

Actuary Science

Risk Management/Assessment

Loss Management/Control

Underwriting

Employers:

Insurance carriers

Insurance agents and brokers

Professional, scientific, and technical consulting firms

Government agencies

Strategies & Information:

Take additional courses in mathematics and finance.

Complete an internship with an insurance agency to gain relevant experience.

Talk to professionals in the industry to learn more about claims, underwriting, and risk management.

Many entry-level positions exist in these areas.

Develop strong communication skills, as many positions require interaction with others and the ability to explain information clearly and concisely.

Learn how to use statistical analysis software and various computer progamming languages.

More than half of actuaries work for insurance carriers.

Plan to take a series of actuarial exams to gain licensure from either the Society of Actuaries or the Casualty Actuarial Society. The type of insurance you deal with will determine which path to pursue. Most actuaries take these exams while working full-time, and the process takes several years.

Learn to communicate effectively with different types of people in various functional areas.

Earn an MBA to reach higher levels of operations management.

Area:

Banking and Finance

Sub-Area:

Corporate and Consumer Credit Analysis

Commercial Lending

Trust Management

Capital Services and Mergers and Acquisitions

Mortgage Loans

Originations and Packaging

Branch Management

Operations

Cash Management

Credit Scoring and Risk Management

Private Banking

Financial Analysis

Investment Banking

Employers:

Commercial banks

Credit unions

Savings and loan associations

Savings banks

Mortgage banks

Captive finance companies

Regulatory agencies including:

Federal Reserve

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC)

Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC)

Office of Thrift Supervision (OTS)

Brokerage firms

Strategies & Information:

Build a solid background in business including marketing, fianance, and accounting.

Gain experience through part-time, summer or internship positions in a financial service firm.

Develop strong interpersonal and communication skills in order to work well with a diverse clientele.

Plan to earn an MBA to enter investment banking.

Area:

Education

Sub-Area:

Teaching

Research

Employers:

Colleges and universities

Strategies & Information:

Plan to earn a doctoral degree.

Maintain a high undergraduate g.p.a. and secure strong recommendations from faculty.

Volunteer to assist a faculty member with his or her research or find a part-time job as a research assistant.

General Information and Strategies

Statistics can be used in a wide variety of fields within science, technology, business, health, and social sciences. Gain knowledge in a specific field of interest to pair with skills in statistics, math, and computers.

Most "statistician" and upper level research jobs in either government or industry will require at least a master's degree.

An undergraduate degree in statistics can be used in a variety of business settings if combined with relevant experience and skills. Choose concentrations or minors that will enhance a degree in statistics. Take courses in forecasting and applied time series which are particularly sought after by employers. Plan to complete one or more internships in an area of interest.

Some positions in business, such as sales and management, are open to any major. Seek experiences and build skills that will help you prepare for these jobs.

Strong communication skills are critical in the field of statistics in order to communicate statistical information clearly to people who do not have technical backgrounds.

Get involved with campus organizations to build leadership and teamwork skills.

Conduct informational interviews with professionals in fields of interest to learn more about their work and to build a network of contacts.

To prepare for graduate school, maintain a high grade point average and secure strong faculty recommendations. Statistics can be a good preparation for graduate degrees in other fields such as law, business, or public health.